Chapter 1

Chapter 1: He Do.... I Don't 

SERAPHINA 

My wedding gown rustled against the floor as I stood before the altar, my hands shaking a bit despite Keiran holding my hands together with his. The Cathedral of the Moon was the church where I was getting married. Every seat was filled with the most powerful supernatural beings in existence. They included werewolf alphas, vampire lords, fae nobility, and witch covens.

They all gathered to witness the union that would be the talk of the century. A marriage between a Lycan King and a Luna Born.

My father, Vincent Blackwood, sat still in the front pew, his eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine. 

Beside him, my mother Isabella was the picture of a dignified lady, although I saw her eyes moving around which meant she was checking for exit and making sure that they aren't taken unawares by rogues who might object to this wedding.

 My twin brothers, Lionel and Lucas, were beside them, looking handsome and proper in their suits.

But don't take their appearance as a reason to lay down your guards. They were fully equipped with weapons beneath their suits.

On the opposite side, Kieran's family was sitting and they commanded attention as well. His parents and sisters were in the front pew followed by their extended relatives and then advisors and pack leaders filled the spaces behind them.

"We gather here today," the ancient priest was speaking, his voice carrying the drawl that was associated with someone that has survived a century of existence, "to witness the sacred bonding of two souls destined by the Moon Goddess herself." 

He lifted the ceremonial veil, that had the house crest of our two packs on it. "The union of Kieran Nightshade, Lycan King of the Northern Territories, and Seraphina Blackwood, daughter of the House of Shadows, will forge an alliance that will—"

My attention drifted away from listening to what the priest was saying as I could feel the eyes of hundreds of eyes on me, each of them filled with expectations that I wasn't sure I could fulfill. My clothes felt too tight on me and for a moment, it felt like I couldn't breathe.

Kieran's thumb was gently stroking my knuckles, it was a gesture meant to be comforting me, but it only made my skin crawl. It wasn't that he was cruel or unattractive. It was quite the opposite At twenty, he was very handsome, with dark hair and green eyes that seemed to see straight through my soul. He was powerful, respected, and by all accounts, a good man who would make a worthy mate. Hell he was the mate that the Moon Goddess had picked for me, recognizing him as soon as I turned 18.

But he wasn't my choice.

"The groom will now speak his vows," the priest announced, and the cathedral fell silent, waiting to hear his words.

Kieran's hands tightened around mine, as he opened his mouth and spoke

"I, Kieran Nightshade, promise to take you as my mate, to love and protect you and the pups we will have, to never leave your side, and if I must die, I die protecting you."

 Around us, the guests nodded their approval, but all I could hear was my erratic heartbeat. My wolf, usually asleep was awake this time around and began to pace restlessly beneath my skin, making me fidget a bit.

"And now," the priest continued, turning to me with a smile on his face, "the bride will speak her vows."

 I could feel my father's eyes burning into my back, could sense my mother's tension, could practically hear my brothers thoughts telling me to say the vows and fulfill my duty to my family.

Kieran's green eyes searched my face, his breath seized as he waited for me to speak.

My mouth opened, but no words came. The vows I'd memorized, all seemed to have fled my brain like sugar dissolved in water.

"I..." I began, my voice cracking like I was experiencing puberty for the first time. The priest nodded his head to encourage me to continue, and Kieran's grip on my hands tightened as if he could somehow anchor me to this moment through sheer will.

But my wolf had other ideas. She surged forward, her panic and desperation overwhelming my human rational mind. 

"I can't," I whispered, and I heard the entire cathedral draw in a loud gasp.

Kieran's face went pale, his eyes eyes widening with shock and something that might have been hurt. 

"Seraphina?"

"I can't do this," I said louder, pulling my hands free from his grasp. The ceremonial veil falling to the ground which seemed like it was mocking me

"I'm sorry, Kieran. I'm so sorry."

The cathedral burst out into chaos as people started murmuring, their voices getting louder with each passing second. I heard my father's sharp intake of breath, saw my mother's mask break as she looked worried about what was going on, I watched as my brothers half-rose from their seats as if they wanted to physically drag me back to the altar.

But I was already moving, as I kept on talking loudly.

 "I believe in true love," I said, my voice loud enough to be heard despite the growing chaos around us.

 "What we have isn't that. It's a political alliance that is disguised as marriage. It's duty and obligation and everything else except choice."

Kieran stepped toward me, his hand extended as he wanted to touch me.

 "Seraphina, we can talk about this. We can—"

"No," I said, shaking my head so violently that my pinned hair began to spill away, the pins falling off

 "I won't be a prize to be won or a treaty to be signed. I won't spend my life pretending that the arrangement we have is the same as love."

I allowed my wolf to come forward as I felt my bones breaking and white furs coming out from my body and in a second, my wolf Nyx stood in front of everyone.

"Stop her!" My father yelled pointing at me but it was too late.

I met Kieran's shocked gaze with my wolf's golden eyes. I saw hurt there, and confusion, and then anger as his face hardened. But he didn't stop me.

I looked away from him and ran off leaping through the window as I felt the glass shattering around me as I disappeared into the night, leaving behind the life that I had only known. 

But I was free.